Scientists Discover New Superfast Orbiting Asteroid In Solar System

Thanks to further observations by the DEC and the Magellan Telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. Moreover the smaller scopes in Chile and South Africa are operated by the Las Cumbres Observatory. So the research team can determine the asteroid’s orbit over the next few days. However, observations of asteroid PH27 2021 delayed several other observations.

“Although telescope time is precious for astronomers, the international nature and love of the unknown makes astronomers very willing to put science aside. These observations are in favor of following up on exciting new discoveries like these,” said discovery team leader Scott Sheppard, an astronomer at Carnegie Institution for Science di Washington DC.

The team estimates that asteroid 2021 PH27 is about 0.6 miles (1 km) wide. This asteroid may have originated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, then plunged inward due to gravitational interactions with one or more planets.

Meanwhile, PH27’s 2021 orbital path is tilted 32 degrees relative to the plane of the solar system. Such a high trend suggests that it may have been an extinct comet born in the far outer solar system. It is then captured into a closer orbit after passing through Mars, Earth, or another rocky planet.

Further observations will further solve the mystery, but Sheppard and other astronomers will have to wait several months to gather more data. Asteroid 2021 PH27 is now moving behind the sun from Earth’s perspective. Where it won’t reappear until early 2022.

Reporter: Ruth Flowers

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